Professor Hannah Fry, who appeared on the BBC's Celebrity Traitors, has shared a simple finger method that she claims can stop a sneeze instantly. The trick involves pressing down on the philtrum, the vertical groove above the upper lip.
How the trick works
Fry, a broadcaster and mathematician, explained on Facebook that pressing hard on the philtrum can stop a sneeze. She said the pressure "overwhelms the trigeminal nerve and sort of confuses it and gives it another sensation that makes it forget about wanting to press the sneeze button."
The philtrum is the indentation that runs from the base of the nose to the peak of the upper lip, often called the Cupid's bow.
The science behind sneezing
Fry described the trigeminal nerve as "this absolute beast responsible for the sensation in your face and controlling your big chewing muscles." When dust or a virus tickles the inside of the nose, this nerve triggers a reflex that forcibly ejects the irritant.
She also explained that the optic nerve, which allows vision, runs up the face alongside the trigeminal nerve. In some people, between 18% and 35% of the population, there is "cross-talk" between these nerves. A sudden change in light intensity, such as a bright light being switched on, can cause the optic nerve to unintentionally trigger the trigeminal nerve, leading to a sneeze.
Inherited trait and safety advice
This "miswiring" is inherited, Fry said, likening it to the ability to roll your tongue. Scientists call this trait Autosomal Dominant Compelling Helio-Opthalmic Outburst, or ACHOO.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, sneezing after seeing bright light is not inherently dangerous, but sneezing uncontrollably in high-risk situations that require focus, such as driving, can be dangerous. Fry's trick could help in such situations.
